Roller-skate



2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. WINSLO W. Roller Skate.

No. 230,094. Patented July-13,1880.

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W TNE5 5 5 N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL WINSLOW, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,094, dated July 13, 1880.

I Application filed January 10, 1880.

To all whom vit may concern v Be it known that I, SAMUEL WINSLOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class known as roller-skates, and has for its object cheapness, lightness, strength, durability, and efficiency in action of an improved device for cramping or turning the rolls to the proper position for enabling the skate to run so as to describe circles to the right or left, and to guide theskate as desired while accomplishing complicated and dexterous movements.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a roller-skate with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section Fig. 4, a perspective view of the hanger, and Fig. 5 aperspective view of the roller-frame and rollers.

A designates the foot-standard or skateblock, to which are connected the heel and toe straps, as usual.

The two hangers B are firmly secured to the under side of the foot-stand by means of screws passed through holes which are formed in plates or wings O of the hangers.

As clearly illustrated in'Fig. 4, the hanger is formed with two coupling-eyes, D D, and an inclined plate, E, which extends from one eye to the other. The portion of the hanger which is applied to the skate-block comprises the plates 0 O, with a connecting-web, F. The upper coupling-eye is located at the juncture of the inclined plate with one of the plates which is applied to the skate-block, while from the point at which the web merges into the remaining plate, which is applied in a similar way, there depends a bar, G, which extends down to the lower one of the eyes.

A central bar, H, connecting the web with the inclined plate, serves to add strength to the device.

The roller frame comprises a straight bar, I, with two arms, K, at its ends. These arms are at right angles to the axis of the bar I, and constitute bearings for the rolleraxis, which is secured against rotation and displacement by a slotted stop-piece, L, one end of which passes into an aperture in the axle, .while the other and slotted end is held against the arm by a screw or rivet. By loosening this screw or rivet the stop L may be moved along the arm so as to detach itfrom the axle. The axle can then be taken out for the purpose of removing one or both of the rollers, for the purpose of placing others in their stead.

The bar or plate M of the frame, which projects from the bar I intermediate of the arms K, but in a different plane from that in which they extend, is formed upon the under side with flanges, through which the roller-axle passes. This said plate is also formed upon its upper side with a flat bearing-surface, N, a depression, M, adjacent to its union with the bar, and it is also formed with an upwardlycurved end, N, which is rounded somewhat at its corners. At the end at which the depression occurs is a bolt-hole formed through the bar, while at the end which is curved or upturned is a projecting pintle, O. The object of these parts of the bar M will be comprehended by referring to the figures which show the hanger and the roller-frame coupled together. As thus viewed, the pintle O of the roller-frame is passed into the upper couplingeye of the hanger, while the depression in the bar or plate M of the roller-frame admits of the remaining coupling-eye of the hanger be. ing brought coincident with the bolt -hole through the bar I, so thatabolt passed through both apertures will complete the connection between the frame and the hanger, and also admit of the free rotation of the latter about the points of connection. As this motion takes place at an angle, it will bring the roller on either side of the skate nearer together by throwing their axes out of parallel and into converging lines. The upturned end N of the roller-frame will prevent too great a motion from side to side, since the inclined plate of the hanger will strike against it when the turn is sufficient.

Between theinclined plate of the hanger and the central inclined plate, M, of the rollerframe sufficient space is left, after coupling, for an elastic cushion or strip, Q, which is clamped byand held in place between the said two parts. The inclined screw coupling-pin 1?,which serves as a pintle, also serves to keep this elastic cushion in place by bearing against its end, and by tightening up the said screw-pin the cushion will be compressed, and hence its spring-resisting power increased. This spring aids in supporting the foot when the weight of the skater is brought to bear upon either side of the skate. It also prevents rattling of the parts, and will at all times be securely held in place by means of the plate and the screw.

It is evident that an independent screw might be substituted for the pintle O, which, as illustrated, is made integral with or permanently connected to the roller-frame. I prefer, however, the present form, and hence have so illustrated it.

The device described can be adapted to iceskating by the substitution of runners for rollers, the slight mechanical change requisite for such being a matter too simple and apparent to require further description.

I am aware of the patent of J. L. Plimpton for a parlor-skate, which was granted J une 26, 1866, and numbered 55,901, and I do not claim anything shown and described in said patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with the hangerB, provided with the coupling-eyesD D, arran ged obliquely, of the roller-frame composed of a bar, I, with a screw-hole at its center,'and having bent ends K K, a bar, M, connected at one end to said bar I and provided at the other'end with a pivotpin or journal, 0, which fits in one of the eyes D, and a screw, P, passing through the hole in the bar I and through the other eye of the hanger, thus forming one of the pivots of the roller-frame, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the hanger having the inclined plate E terminating in eyes D D, of the roller-frame having the bar M, provided with the inclined face N and shoulder N, pivot pin or journal 0, and recess or depression M, the bar I, connected to said bar M, and provided with a central hole and bent ends K K, the roller-shaft supported by said bent ends, and the bar M, the screw 1?, and the clastic cushion Q, arranged between the inclined plate E and the inclined face N, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the hanger having the inclined plate E and eyes D D, of the hanger-frame having the inclined face N, pivot O, and asuitably supported screw arranged to pass through one of the eyes D, and the elastic cushion Q, arranged between the inclined face N and plate E, in position to be compressed by said screw, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the hanger and roller-frame coupled together, of an intermediate elastic cushion and the inclined screw coupling pin-or pintle adapted to act directly upon the cushion, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL WIN SLOW.

.Witnesses: I JAMES L. N ORRIS, ALBERT H. N oRRIs. 

